Dispute Settlement
Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration
The rules and usages for international trade in seed for sowing purposes are complemented by procedure rules for mediation, conciliation and/or arbitration when resolving disputes on trade and intellectual property issues. These procedure rules are also reviewed at regular intervals and only the version most recently amended (and adopted by ISF’s General Assembly) are posted online.
Rules in force prior to this date are available on request from the ISF Secretariat. In case of a dispute, check the date of the contract to verify which rules apply.
ISF Procedure Rules for Dispute Settlement for the Trade in Seeds for Sowing Purposes and for Management of Intellectual Property, 2008 (Fr, It, Sp)
Article 2 of the Section on Arbitration Procedure Rules (in the above mentioned rules) requires the application for arbitration to be made only in the country of the seller. Many national seed associations have arbitration chambers that provide the necessary facilities for conducting arbitration in accordance with the ISF Rules and Usages for the Trade in Seeds for Sowing Purposes. Some have designated arbitration chambers in other countries to act on their behalf. A list of arbitration chambers is provided.